Madison Bumgarner

Entering Saturday evening’s matchup between the Giants and Diamondbacks at Chase Field, San Francisco’s offense had scored two runs or fewer in six of ace Madison Bumgarner’s 12 starts this season.

Though it ended months ago, San Francisco’s dream of winning the National League West went up in flames in the eighth inning on Sunday afternoon.

On Tuesday evening, not even Giants’ ace Madison Bumgarner could put Giancarlo Stanton’s hot bat on ice. But even though Stanton’s bat played a significant role, it was his arm that was the deciding factor.

Most Miami Marlins hitters have a terrible track record against Madison Bumgarner. In fact, most Major League players have struggled in their career against the Giants’ ace, a four-time All-Star who boasts a 2.98 career earned run average.

Baer indicated that at least a couple young managers inquired about both Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner, but stated that the organization never considered involving either in a trade.

After three straight starts in which he lasted seven innings –three starts in which he allowed a combined three earned runs against a trio of National League playoff contenders– Madison Bumgarner stood in the Giants’ clubhouse and answered a round of questions about the strength of his left shoulder.

There were days when a Madison Bumgarner start at AT&T Park against the defending World Series champions had serious implications. And perhaps, in a micro sense, Wednesday was one of those days.

Some nights, you win the lottery. On others, your ticket loses its value. That’s the life of a Major League pitcher, and lately, Madison Bumgarner has fallen on hard luck.

Whether it’s the Rockies’ Nolan Arenado, the Dodgers’ Corey Seager, or even the Padres’ Hector Sanchez, every division rival seems to have a player the Giants just can’t seem to figure out. For the Arizona Diamondbacks, it’s Paul Goldschmidt.

Ty Blach didn’t just carry the load with his bat in Thursday’s 11-2 victory over the A’s, he did it with his arm as well. And lately, that arm has been getting stronger.